It is a model with a lot of history and belongs to a very popular market segment. As popular as a Ford Fiesta, a Renault Clio or a Seat Ibiza. Indeed, the Mitsubishi Colt appeared in 1962, long before some long-established European utility vehicles.
And the Japanese brand is recovering it now, ten years after stopping selling it in Europe. But this time, Mitsubishi takes advantage of its industrial alliance with Renault to market a replica of the Clio, but with its own design.
Advantages? Many. To begin with, the Japanese brand skips all the development of the car and takes advantage of modern technology that works very well. Disadvantages? In Spain, Renault has a strong and historical commercial presence that Mitsubishi should counteract with a successful pricing policy.
In any case, the seventh generation of the Colt is an attractive car, with a very modern image, truly valid for daily and urban use. Developed for the European market, it is manufactured in Bursa (Turkey) and is now available in our market from 17,790 euros. In principle, it is a little more expensive than the Clio, but Mitsubishi offers a five-year warranty with roadside assistance, which is not bad at all.
Mitsubishi uses the current Clio to launch its new Colt, as it has already done with the ASX SUV, which is actually a Captur. It is about taking advantage of the synergies of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance to regain ground in the European market. A common practice in which everyone wins. Among other things, because the Clio is performing very well commercially, with certainly interesting hybrid technology.
The new Colt is therefore a Clio, with the logo and front grille changed. And a little more. A design, on the other hand, is very modern, attractive and looks great.
It inevitably inherits things that can be improved such as the trunk opening button located in the bumper, in the license plate slot. Or the camouflaged handles on the rear doors with a very clean design, but inaccessible to children.
Inside, logically, you breathe Clio air. Except on the steering wheel where there is a different logo. As with the Renault, the overall quality is good with materials that are pleasant to look at and touch. The ergonomics also stand out – everything is close at hand – and the seats are really comfortable.
The central touch screen is large and the digital panel, which is not standard in the basic version, is 10 inches and provides a lot of information.
We also highlight the physical controls for the climate control and some functions such as the driving mode selector, the program that activates the 100% electric driving mode, the parking assistant or the heated seats. The physical controls are found quickly and naturally and it is appreciated that they continue to be maintained for certain functions. A success.
Mitsubishi has put together a range of three engines for the Colt. All gasoline. The entry is a 1.0 naturally aspirated three-cylinder with 65 HP, somewhat modest in performance if we intend to use the car on the road.
More powerful, there is a 1.0 three-cylinder 90 HP. And the most interesting option, in our opinion, is the 145 HP HEV (conventional hybrid). With the ECO label, it combines a 1.6-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with a multi-mode automatic transmission. It obviously includes a 36 kW electric motor and a 1.2 kWh battery.
The system excels in urban environments, where the electric motor remains active for up to 80% of the driving time. Thanks to greater efficiency in the use of electrical energy, the Colt HEV has a range of up to 900 km and reduces CO2 emissions to just 94 g/km, with fuel consumption of just 4.2 liters.
In the city, we can force the 100% electric driving mode, although it is not necessary because in urban sections the combustion engine stops most of the time. Yes, position B (brake) of the transmission is more useful, which is regenerative braking and allows you to drive practically without braking. Similar to the “one pedal” function of electric ones.
On the road, it is a car focused on comfort, without sporting pretensions, although the behavior is very noble and predictable.
The available finishes are the well-known Motion, Kaiteki and Kaiteki. There are subtle changes between versions on the exterior that affect the mirrors, the spoiler, the lower protectors or the different 15, 16 and 17-inch wheel options.
The digital experience inside the new Colt lives up to the dynamism of its design and has all the current connectivity. The range of accessories available makes it easy for customers to further adapt the new model to their specific needs. For example, the retractable tow ball, the roof box or the reversible boot liner. There are options for all types of users.
